ITS SOUTH NORMANTON ON PENALTIES IN A LATE NIGHT

SOUTH NORMANTON ATH V WEST BRIDGFORD  1-1 [AET] [90 MINS [0-0] 5-3 PENS
EAST MIDLANDS COUTNIES LEAGUE CUP ROUND 1 REPLAY
2 NOVEMBER 2016 --- 7.45PM

A long night finally saw South Normanton victorious after extra time and penalties were required to separate these two side who after a first game had ended 2-2 after extra time saw a goal less 90 minutes in the replay send the game into extra time and then spot kicks before the home side claimed their round 2 place.
Only the third midweek game of the season so far and winter was upon us tonight with bright floodlights came the ever descending frost at Lees Lane.  Arrival for a night game is always a little difficult the dark approach walking headlong into the floodlights makes the entrance difficult to locate and is unfortunate because South Normanton have probably the best ground in the EMCFL.  I have previously described the ground so wont go into it again its nearly always a cold winters night when I visit and I must come to a game on a Saturday afternoon again soon.
Great to catch up tonight with Mark and Brian from Alfreton, Neil, Steve and Dave former Glapwell flagman.  The latter who won the 50/50 draw by buying a ticket before me Burnley were £20 to the good by half time, unfortunately the picture did not come out too well so no view of the Burnley woolly hat.  I must also thank here Steve for a lift back from this game, one of which would have seen an early departure otherwise, thank you!
The cold night had seen myself and Dave invest in a few soups during the extravaganza I use the latter word loosely.

The first 20 minutes saw the home side pepper the visitors goal and Sam Clarke between the sticks got in the way of many of the efforts and if it wasn't to be him the defence blocked the route to goal non more so than a Warren Hatfield shot cleared off the line.
The second hald as per the end of the first half became a box to box affair with lots of endeavour but little to write home about in terms of action.  The encounter was finding it difficult to find a winner and as we entered the 2nd period of extra time it looked like West Bridgford who would win it when on 110 minutes they were awarded a penalty and Kevin Spriggs fired home to give the Nottinghamshire side the lead.  Within 3 minutes though South Normanton deservedly equalised when keeper Clarke rushed out and was found in no mans land it was Shaun Smith who headed on for Kane Jellyman to tap home to send us to penalties.
Spot kicks followed then and as Tom Lewis fired home Normanton's third its was Jamie Spiers for the visitors who saw his kick saved by Charlie Mnasfield and although the visitors pushed Normanton to taking the fifth penalty when Dave Leigh scored to make it 5-3 West Bridgeford had run out of efforts.  It was all over by 1022 and a long night and indeed long tie had provided a winner and current league leaders South Normanton would move onto round 2.